Sports

Career bragging rights have been surpassed by a pair of seniors within the last week: Delaney Brooms cleared 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills Oct. 5 at Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Career bragging rights have been surpassed by a pair of seniors within the last week: Delaney Brooms cleared 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills Oct. 5 at Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

2 athletes, 3 milestones

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
Robbinsville – While sprinting through a hectic stretch of action, two Lady Knights seniors cemented their legacy in Robbinsville volleyball history. Delaney Brooms surpassed 1,000 digs and kills in the same match – a 4-set triumph at Hayesville on Oct.
Dodging steady rainfall for much of the evening proved to be a challenge for both Robbinsville and Murphy on Friday. Here, Bulldogs quarterback Brady Grant could not get enough traction to escape Koleson Dooley (55) and Chase Calhoun (2), as the duo dropped Grant for a sack moments later. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Dodging steady rainfall for much of the evening proved to be a challenge for both Robbinsville and Murphy on Friday. Here, Bulldogs quarterback Brady Grant could not get enough traction to escape Koleson Dooley (55) and Chase Calhoun (2), as the duo dropped Grant for a sack moments later. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Rainin’ on their parade

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
The box score from Friday's game. Murphy – There was steady rainfall; tempers flaring on the field; and a thrilling conclusion. In other words, a fitting chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the Robbinsville Black Knights and the Murphy Bulldogs.
Robbinsville Black emerged as champions of the 2023 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference Volleyball Tournament, which was held Saturday at Cherokee. Robbinsville Black swept another Graham County program – Snowbird – to capture the gold. From left are assistant coach Allison Rogers, Mercy Nelms, McKynlee Adams, Natalie Swimmer, Kamry Rogers, Amiyah Collins, head coach Holly Jackson and Lexi Crisp. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Black emerged as champions of the 2023 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference Volleyball Tournament, which was held Saturday at Cherokee. Robbinsville Black swept another Graham County program – Snowbird – to capture the gold. From left are assistant coach Allison Rogers, Mercy Nelms, McKynlee Adams, Natalie Swimmer, Kamry Rogers, Amiyah Collins, head coach Holly Jackson and Lexi Crisp. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights; Lady Warriors; oh my!

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
Cherokee – All told, three different teams from Graham County suited up for Smokey Mountain Youth Conference volleyball action this season: two from Robbinsville and one representing Snowbird.
Roman Jones (15) and Bryce Adams (6) lead a sandwich of Murphy's Cameron Clem during the second half of Friday's 26-21 road victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Roman Jones (15) and Bryce Adams (6) lead a sandwich of Murphy's Cameron Clem during the second half of Friday's 26-21 road victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights gain measure of revenge against Bulldogs

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Murphy -- There was steady rainfall; tempers flaring on the field; and a thrilling conclusion. In other words, a fitting chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the Robbinsville Black Knights and the Murphy Bulldogs.
Senior Tia Hall contends the defense of Andrews’ Kinleigh Queen in Robbinsville’s 4-set road victory over the Lady Wildcats. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Senior Tia Hall contends the defense of Andrews’ Kinleigh Queen in Robbinsville’s 4-set road victory over the Lady Wildcats. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Still in the hunt

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Andrews – On paper, it’s a simple-enough ask: you have three matches left, so win out. But a quick scan of the remaining schedule on that same piece of paper will quickly reveal how daunting that task will be for the Robbinsville Lady Knights.
Chase Calhoun had his first 100-yard game in a Robbinsville uniform Friday, and he did it against his former school as part of a 46-6 rout at Cherokee. Running interference for Calhoun are Koleson Dooley (55) and Isiac Collins (61). Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Chase Calhoun had his first 100-yard game in a Robbinsville uniform Friday, and he did it against his former school as part of a 46-6 rout at Cherokee. Running interference for Calhoun are Koleson Dooley (55) and Isiac Collins (61). Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

It’s the thrill of the Chase

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 5, 2023
The box score from Friday's game at Cherokee. Cherokee – Chase Calhoun’s stomach was in knots as the Robbinsville team bus pulled into the parking area Friday.
Moments after securing the program’s first outright JV conference title in over a decade, the Robbinsville Black Knights gather to commemorate the victory at Swain County High School. Photo courtesy of Tonia Walsh/Robbinsville Middle School

Moments after securing the program’s first outright JV conference title in over a decade, the Robbinsville Black Knights gather to commemorate the victory at Swain County High School. Photo courtesy of Tonia Walsh/Robbinsville Middle School

Alone at last

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Bryson City – There will be no need to break out the rule book to determine a tiebreaker; a phone call to congratulate a rival coach on sharing a piece of the bragging rights will go undialed.
Roman Jones (15) and Tytan Teesateskie (72) celebrate Jones’ two-point conversion pass reception Friday at Cherokee. The snag capped the first scoring drive of the game for either team, with Robbinsville pouring it on from that point forward in a 46-6 rout of the Braves. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Roman Jones (15) and Tytan Teesateskie (72) celebrate Jones’ two-point conversion pass reception Friday at Cherokee. The snag capped the first scoring drive of the game for either team, with Robbinsville pouring it on from that point forward in a 46-6 rout of the Braves. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville topples Cherokee in conference opener

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Cherokee – Following a defensive stalemate in the first quarter, two Black Knights had eclipsed 100 rushing yards at the end of the night.

Quest for gold almost over

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Hayesville – A win tonight would achieve something that the JV Black Knights football program has not accomplished in quite some time.
Junior Claire Barlow (3) rises above Swain County’s Kinsley Hyatt during Sept. 21’s road match in Bryson City. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior Claire Barlow (3) rises above Swain County’s Kinsley Hyatt during Sept. 21’s road match in Bryson City. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Rough Knights at the office

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Robbinsville – The reintroduction to conference play did not go according to plan for the Robbinsville Lady Knights. An 8-match win streak was snapped in a 4-set loss at Swain County on Sept.